A/N: Hey, guys! Once again I'm running late! So this is going to be very short but hopefully very sweet!
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL OF YOUR REVIEWS! REVIEWS! GLORIOUS REVIEWS!
I love you guys. Let's just face facts.
Random Disclaimer: I do not own The Hunger Games Series. As the past two stories show, my version of events would have been quite different.
Me: Guys, I don't have time for this today . . .
Rye: That hurts, AC.
Katniss: Seriously. You know you could have avoided this if you had just done your homework when you were supposed to . . .
Me: Hey! I wrote this last night and then FF didn't save the changes!
Peeta: Still, you usually have chapters prepped and ready to go days ahead of time . . . slacker . . .
Me: Take it back!
Peeta: Nope.
Haymitch: You should be ashamed.
Me: (hangs head)
Chapter 23: Riot
If you feel so angry
So ripped off, so stepped on
You're not the only one refusing to back down
You're not the only one, so get up
Let's start a riot
As Haymitch predicted, Gale arrives back in 13 the next afternoon. I'm waiting in the aircraft hangar, watching as the hovercraft gently comes to rest in its designated spot. The loading ramp lowers to the ground and I note each face leaving the craft. None of them surprise me. Plutarch and Fulvia. Cressida and her team. Beetee. Boggs.
And then, finally, Gale.
It's almost as though he knew that I would be waiting for him, because he immediately finds my gaze. I take note of his hard expression, the defensiveness in his eyes. He knows exactly why I'm here. I try not to glare at him. I don't want this conversation to start off aggressively. Gale will simply fire a cutting retort and leave.
Wordlessly, he passes me, but I understand the silent signal to follow him. He leads us to an empty, dead end hallway and then turns to face me. Immediately, he crosses his arms over his chest in a defensive manner. "What do you want, Katniss?" he asks harshly.
"I just want to know why," I tell him honestly, carefully tucking my anger in the back of my mind. I have to keep a level head.
"It needed to be done," Gale replies coolly. "It was the only way to take The Nut."
"That's how you justify it?" I ask incredulously. "That's how you justify ending hundreds of lives?"
"Casualties of war." Gale's face is stony. "There's no avoiding it, Katniss. Bad things happen."
"That still doesn't give you the right to do what you did."
"What I did?" he repeats. "I didn't do a damn thing that the Capitol hasn't done before! Why should we show them mercy when we receive none in return?"
I stare at him uncomprehendingly for a moment as I take in what he's saying. "Don't you realize what you've become, Gale? Don't you see that by acting the way you are you've become the very people you hate? You're using their actions to justify your own! Both of which are despicable!"
Gale's eyes narrow dangerously. "I did what I had to do."
"No, you did what you wanted to do," I retort angrily. So much for keeping a clear head. "You had a choice!"
"Yeah, I had a choice. And it was whether I was saving thousands of lives by blowing The Nut, or letting something like cowardice prevent me from doing nothing!"
"Courage is not the ability to take a life," I tell him softly, having run out of anger. "Trust me on that." I feel sadness take its place as I look into the grey eyes I once thought I knew so well. I don't recognize the person in front of me. "See who your anger is transforming you into, Gale."
"You don't know me," Gale snaps angrily and tears fill my eyes.
"No," I agree. "I don't. You're not my best friend. You have his face, but not his heart."
"You think I'm heartless."
"I think you've forgotten who you are."
There's a tense moment when neither of us speaks. We simply stare at each other. I try to see a vestige of the person I once knew. Who I trusted more than anyone. But all I see are cold grey eyes burning with a vengeful rage. Coin has poisoned him. She's taken my best friend.
And I hate her for it.
"I've got a meeting in Command," Gale says abruptly, breaking the silence. "Bye, Katniss."
In a fluid motion, he turns on his heel and quickly walks away from me without looking back. My hand finds my heart, as if to assuage the pain currently ripping it apart. I blink rapidly, trying to prevent the tears that are begging to be released. I will not cry. I will not cry.
Clenching my hands into fists, I march back to the compartment. The moment I'm through the door and shutting it softly behind me, I feel Peeta's eyes on me. I avoid eye contact with him. Instead, I approach the bassinet where a sleeping Lilly rests inside. I gently caress her cheek with my finger, stroke her soft raven hair. Slowly, I feel myself begin to relax.
Peeta's hands come to rest on my shoulders as he begins to knead the tension out of my muscles. I sigh, leaning my head back until it rests against his chest. His lips brush my neck and I relax further into his body, relishing the feel of his strong arms wrapping around my waist. I close my eyes, resting my arms on top of his.
"It didn't go well," he states knowingly, finally breaking the peaceful silence.
I shake my head, turning in his embrace. I focus on the beat of his heart, absently fiddling with a button of his shirt. "He's so angry, Peeta," I say quietly. "And bitter."
"Makes sense," Peeta says diplomatically. "The Capitol has brought him a lot of pain."
"That doesn't give him the right to do what he did."
"Maybe, but what does it matter? I'm not condoning what he did. But I'm not going to condemn him for it either. He hurt some of the people responsible for hurting him."
I stare at Peeta. Is he actually defending Gale? "What are you saying?"
"I'm saying I know how he feels," Peeta replies honestly. "Because if I'm put in a room full of the people who tortured me, I know exactly what I would try to do."
I blanch. "You would kill them"
"Yes," he agrees solemnly. "I'm not proud of that, Katniss, but it's the truth."
"But they hurt you directly," I defend. "You're not going out trying to slaughter the entire Capitol. Those citizens in The Nut weren't directly responsible for any hurt that Gale may have received."
"Sure they might not have fired the shot, but they loaded in the gun," Peeta replies with a slight shrug of his shoulders. "There's no clear right and wrong in a war, Katniss. Everything gets blurred. Some big decisions are easily rationalized in the heat of the moment. I don't think anyone will ever know whether Gale did the right thing or not, or if the ends will ever justify the means. There's no going back."
I sigh as Peeta's words wash over me. Never thought I would see the day when Peeta would defend Gale, but his point is valid. I just . . . I can't get over the fact that Gale made a decision that cost so many their lives . . . and in such a cruel way. Snares have now become bombs. It was a deathtrap that Gale knowingly laid.
What bothers me most is his explanation; his reason why he was able to make the decision. It's nothing the Capitol wouldn't have done. He's right. The Capitol has done something like this and much worse. Just look at the bombing of 12, our home. That's all the evidence needed to prove his reasoning. But to justify his own means like that . . . it's wrong. He should be doing things because they're right. Not out of revenge.
"I just feel like I'm losing my best friend," I whisper after a moment. "He's not the same. He's too vengeful. I mean, he has always been angry at the Capitol. I just never thought that he would do something like this."
Peeta's silent for a moment before saying, "People change and people drift apart. It's simply how life works. Sometimes it just hurts more than others. Especially when you know that there's nothing you can do about it."
I wrap my arms around his waist, and he hugs me tighter, resting his chin on the top of my head. We stay like that for the longest time, and I simply enjoy the feeling of being held in his arms once again. For a moment, a few months ago, I had worried that this might never happen again. That Peeta wouldn't come back to me. I shouldn't have doubted him. Peeta will always come back to me.
"I'm glad you're back," I say softly. "I missed this."
Peeta sighs, kissing the top of my head. "I missed this, too. It was what I wanted from the moment I stepped foot in this place, but I just couldn't. I didn't want to hurt you."
"How many times do I have to tell you?" I pull away from him so I can see his face. "You could never hurt me."
Peeta's eyes darken slightly, and I know he's thinking of an incident nearly two months ago. When he had a flashback and (very briefly) choked me. After a moment he sighs and says, "Not intentionally."
"Peeta." I take his face in my hands. "I trust you with my life. Always have."
Peeta leans into my touch, closing his eyes. "I know," he whispers, turning his head just slightly to place a soft kiss on the inside of my wrist.
Gently, he takes my wrists in his hands, pulling me flush against him. I oblige, wrapping my arms around his neck as his hands glide down the sides of my body, coming to rest lightly on my hips. My hands tangle in his hair, pulling his face down to mine. Our lips meet in a soft, but deep kiss that expresses our feelings for each other perfectly.
He slowly begins to step backward toward the bed, sitting down on the edge and pulling me down to him, never breaking the kiss. I straddle his lap, fisting my hands in his hair as our mouths continue to move in perfect synchronization. Only when my lungs are threatening to burst do I pull away from him, gasping for air. But Peeta's lips never leave my skin. I tilt my head, allowing him better access to my neck, reveling in the wet, sucking kisses he trails down to my collarbone.
God, I'd missed this.
Suddenly, he picks me up and spins us around. We land in the middle of the bed in breathless laughter. Peeta hovers over me, pressing every inch of his body against mine. I feel his hands slip under my shirt as his lips find my neck again. My skin immediately begins to tingle as his hands brush my bare skin and a shudder runs through me.
I hook my leg behind his, bringing us even closer, causing a low moan to escape Peeta's lips. I pull his face back up to mine, gluing my mouth to his as I allow my hands to roam. Just as I've unbuttoned the first few buttons of his shirt, greedily exploring the newly exposed skin, there's a knock on the door.
Peeta and I freeze, like we're regular teenagers afraid of getting caught making out by our parents. Both of us stare at the door and then back at each other. Then, we remember that we're a married couple who have been separated for months—by more than just distance—and we were probably about to have some really great sex.
Peeta buries his face into the crook of my neck. "I will kill whoever is at the door," he growls in frustration. "Slowly."
I sigh as the person knocks on the door once more, this time more insistent. "Katniss?" A man calls through the door. "You and your husband are needed in Command."
"So Boggs will be my first victim," Peeta mutters. "Regrettable, but unavoidable."
"Peeta," I chide, but I run my hand comfortingly through his hair.
"Fine," he grumbles. "I won't kill him."
"Good."
"I guess we should get up then."
"That would be a good idea."
So, with great reluctance, Peeta and I disentangle ourselves and hurriedly try to straighten our clothing. Peeta quickly fixes the buttons on his shirt that I managed to get undone, and runs his hand through his hair. I do the same. Quickly, we look ourselves over, making sure we're presentable, and then Peeta opens the door.
"This better be important," he says by way of greeting.
I swear that Boggs blushes. "Sorry to disturb you, but you are wanted in Command."
Peeta and I both glance at Haymitch. "Don't look at me," he says. "I don't know what we did this time."
I frown. "Who will watch Lilly?"
"Why, sweetcheeks, I'm insulted." Rye suddenly appears from behind Haymitch, clutching his heart dramatically. "It's like you forgot about me."
While Peeta and I may give him a hard time, we really do trust him with Lilly. Peeta and Rye just like to poke fun at each other. It must be a brother thing.
"If only," Peeta mutters before stepping aside and allowing Rye into the room. "She's sleeping."
"Oh, goodie. I love the little faces she makes," Rye says, already taking a seat in the rocking chair. "Go on, guys. I got this."
As always, any time I have to leave Lilly I feel a tug in my chest. I hate leaving her. I feel Peeta take my hand, offering comfort with the small gesture. He squeezes my hand. He doesn't like leaving Lilly either.
"Let's get this over with," I say with a deep breath, shutting the door behind us.
The walk to Command is made in complete silence, and I take the time to wonder about why Coin would want to talk to us. Obviously, something Mockingjay related would most likely be mentioned at some point. It would only make sense.
I nearly stop walking when it suddenly hits me, a possible reason why Coin wants to speak with us. I am medically cleared to go into the field. The minimum amount of recovery time has passed: six weeks. Coin could send me into the field. She could send Peeta into the field.
She's going to try to get rid of us. Permanently.
Judging by the tenseness of Peeta's shoulders, I know that he has reached the same conclusion as I have. My eyes flit over to Haymitch, whose expression is calculative, yet calm. A perfect poker face for the situation we were about to be thrust into.
When we step through the door of Command, every pair of eyes immediately finds us. Plutarch regards us with a frown, most likely remembering his last conversation with Peeta . . . if you can really call a single question and Peeta's, um, creative response a conversation. Fulvia simply glares, if only because we've given her boss trouble. I'm glad to see that Cressida and her team still offer me a small smile. Pollux even gives me a subtle wave. The other military officials are regarding Peeta with restrained suspicion. Everyone remembers the last time he and Coin went head to head.
Coin herself is regarding us coolly, appraising. I watch as her gaze lingers on Peeta, taking in his healthy form and stern gaze. I can't help but feel extremely proud of him in this moment, as I realize—yet again—just how much he has overcome. Peeta is not affected by her gaze. In fact, he seems to be the picture of ease. Hands in his pockets. Back against the wall. Ankles crossed in front of him.
Compared to the straight-backed, proper stances of everyone else in the room, Peeta looks dreadfully out of place. However, all their attention is on him, which is exactly the way he wants it to be. I let him be the overprotective husband. I know that he's missed protecting me.
"Katniss, Peeta," Coin greats us, merely offering Haymitch an irritated glance. His presence bothers her. Good. "I hope you're doing well. How is your daughter?"
I smile tightly. The simple fact that she mentions Lilly unnerves me and makes me want to run back to the compartment. Just to make sure she's okay. "She's fine."
Coin turns her attention to Peeta. "And your own recovery is going well, is it not?"
"Almost back to normal," he replies evenly. "Of course, I still have those moments when I just want to strangle someone. Especially if they're a threat."
"I suppose you would feel the need to protect what's yours." Coin's eyes flicker to me briefly, her meaning clear. "I imagine you must feel the need to make up for missed opportunities."
Peeta smiles thinly. "Can you blame me?"
Coin merely smiles before glancing down at the piece of paper in front of her. "The reason I wanted to speak with you is to inform you that your stagnation as Mockingjays has ended. According to the doctors I've spoken to, Katniss, you're medically cleared for the field. And, Peeta, now that you're physically capable to withstand the rigors of the battlefield, you are out of excuses as well. Of course, I hate to tear you both away from your daughter, but some things cannot be avoided."
I grit my teeth in order to keep from shouting at her, to tell her that I know she plans on killing us somehow. Luckily, Peeta speaks before I can. "I'll go," he says, sounding extremely reluctant. "But leave Katniss out of it."
"Impossible," Coin retorts quickly. I see the smirk of victory in her eyes. She's enjoying this. "Both Mockingjays must be present when we storm the Capitol. The sight of the star-crossed lovers of District 12 reunited at last, battling their enemy that has caused them so much grief, will excite the rebels. They need hope for the final push. Surely, you cannot deny them that?"
"Please," Peeta hisses between clenched teeth as though the words are physically painful to utter. "Let Katniss stay. I'm fine with the possibility of dying. But I'm not leaving my child without at least one of her parents."
"Peeta," I try to calm him but he shakes his head. I place a gentle hand on his arm. "We don't have a choice," I whisper, though still loud enough for everyone to hear. I force tears into my eyes. "Let me go. I already lost you once. I'm not losing you again."
"You're not going!" Peeta snaps at me, losing his temper. He turns his angry blue eyes on Coin. "Just let her stay with the baby. I'm more capable than she is anyway. I know the Capitol better than she does. I'm more valuable."
"If you want a future for your child, I can't see either of you staying," Coin says, her threat clear. Peeta and I both become statues. "After all, wasn't your participation in the war meant to create a better world for her?"
"Peeta," I plead as a single tear slides down my cheek. "Let's finish this. Then we can go home."
"No—"
"They'll do it," Haymitch suddenly interrupts, earning glares from both me and Peeta. He isn't looking at us though, his eyes rest on Coin. "You have my word. When will they leave for the Capitol?"
"Haymitch!" Peeta shouts in outrage. "What are you doing?"
Haymitch ignores him.
"Three weeks," Coin replies. "The Rebels will march on the Capitol three weeks from today."
"Your Mockingjays will be there."
Coin nods, a nearly invisible smirk twisting her lips. "Thank you for your cooperation."
Soldiers escort the three of us out, and when one grabs Peeta's arm, he lunges at him, but Haymitch drags him back. We're escorted to the elevator by the guards in silence. Peeta and I are radiating a fiery fury, sending Haymitch glares that promise a painful death. Haymitch seems to look apologetic, but resolute.
That's how the guards leave us once we step onto the elevator. However, once the elevator doors close, a smile appears on Haymitch's face. "Kids, that went perfectly."
"You think?" Peeta asks, all of his previous anger vanishing. "It looked like she bought it."
"I think she did," I say as I relax into Peeta's side. "I mean, I actually managed to cry."
"The tears were a nice touch," Haymitch nods. "Your acting has gotten better, sweetheart."
"Your approval means the world."
Peeta sighs. "What matters is that she doesn't expect us to realize she's sending us to our deaths. If we had automatically agreed, especially after being so vehement against doing anything battle related, she would have been suspicious."
"Now we have our ticket to the Capitol," I say. This, of course, was crucial to Peeta's plan to kill Coin. Surprise, Coin! You just helped us come one step closer to killing you.
Peeta nods in response, and then turns to Haymitch. "We need to get with Finnick and Jo. They'll want to be with us when we're in the Capitol."
I frown as I try to follow his thinking. "They're going with us?"
"They won't want to miss it. The chance to go after Snow?" Peeta chuckles humorlessly. "Nothing will stop them from going."
Later that night, our compartment is at full capacity. I'm sitting on the bed with Johanna, holding Lilly in my arms and letting her play with my fingers. Rye and Finnick are occupying the only two chairs in the room, leaving Peeta and Haymitch standing in front of all of us.
"So, what do you want?" Johanna says after a moment, looking from me to Peeta to Haymitch. "Is this some friendly bonding thing? Did my therapist put you up to this?"
"No, of course not Jo," Finnick replies with a teasing smile. "Everyone knows not to bond with you."
Johanna growls and throws a pillow across the room, hitting Finnick square in the face, prompting Rye to grab a pillow of his own and cry, "Pillow fight!"
Peeta grabs the pillow from Rye's hands before he can smack Finnick. "Enough, guys," Peeta orders, tossing the pillows back onto the bed. "Believe it or not, this is actually important."
"Coin has ordered Peeta and Katniss into the field." The playful atmosphere evaporates at Haymitch's words. His face is strictly serious when he adds, "She plans to send them into the Capitol and then by some 'unfortunate' accident, get them killed."
Rye is the first to catch on, his eyes brightening slightly in realization. He looks at Peeta. "You came up with a plan. A real one."
"A plan to do what?" Finnick questions confused.
"To kill Coin," Peeta replies coldly, causing a suffocating silence to envelope the room as our friends digest his words. "We don't have a choice. Katniss is too much of a threat to her. When we win the war, Coin will want to be President, and Katniss is the only one who has the power to take that away from her."
"Because the people follow her," Johanna says with a nod of understanding.
"Yes," Haymitch agrees. "Exactly."
"So I'm guessing we're here because it's more than a three man job," Rye assumes, looking uncharacteristically serious.
Peeta smiles slightly at his older brother. "Only if you're up for it."
"Well I'm in," Johanna declares lightly. "I've never liked the bitch anyway."
"There's more to this now than just Coin," Peeta says after a moment. "Of course, for the plan to work, we'll have to be in the Capitol before she is. Since she's sending us in to storm the Capitol, that's already taken care of, but the question is what do we do while we're there?"
"Fight, obviously," Rye answers, eyeing his brother with confusion and interest. "But there's more."
"We're in there to storm the Capitol," I say, speaking for the first time. I keep playing with Lilly, tickling her belly slightly, smiling faintly when she squeals in delight. "We'll have to fight or we'll die. It'll almost be like we're back in the arena. All the rules will be the same. Except for one. We'll only need one death to win these Games."
I finally look up to see their faces, all them looking contemplative except for Peeta and Haymitch, who already know the answer. Rye finally frowns and asks, "Who?"
"President Snow." All eyes in the room flit to Haymitch. "If we're in the Capitol, we might as well make use of our time."
"I'm in," Finnick says immediately, his gaze unusually cold. All of us understand. In many ways, Finnick has suffered more than any of us due to Snow.
"Well there's no way I'm missing this," Johanna says offhandedly, though a menacing light has entered her eye. "Let's make him squeal."
Rye raises his hand. "Question." Peeta merely raises his eyebrows. "Of course, I'm totally on board with this plan. No one messes with my family. But, am I the only one wondering how we're going to sneak away from the Alpha team, led by Boggs of all people, manage to sneak into mansion undetected—"
"After avoiding all the boobytraps in the Capitol streets," Finnick adds helpfully.
"What he said," Rye nods in Finnick's direction. "So, how are we going to do all of that and not manage to die?"
Peeta smirks slightly, and asks, "Come on, Rye. When don't I have a plan?"
Oh, Peeta, how I adore you.
So! Not only are they planning to kill Coin, they're gonna get Snow, too. Seriously, why not put their time in the Capitol to even better use? This is when we fasten our seatbelts, people. Because I have my very own special ending to this series.
Which totally, under no circumstances, happened in canon. People die. And all of you will hate me. But hey, it's a war, right?
Summary: Peeta is the new Hannibal for the A-team; Finnick is Face; Rye can be Murdock; which leaves Johanna as BA . . . strangely it works, right?; Katniss and Lilly are two peas in a pod; Coin is the leader of the Borg Collective; Gale has been assimilated, resistance was futile; and Snow is currently down his little rabbit hole . . .
Quote from the next chapter comes from . . . Peeta!
"You won't lose me."
Lots of love,
AC
